Aaltonen Lauri

1.1.2008-31.12.2012 and 01.01.2013 - 31.12.2017 Cancer Genetics University of Helsinki

Lauri Aaltonen is Academy Professor at the University of Helsinki and Director of the Academy of Finland’s Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genetics Research. His research field is cancer genetics. His is widely recognised as one of the world-leading scientists in his field and is highly esteemed among his international colleagues. The research plan submitted by Aaltonen for his third term as Academy Professor is considered to represent the international top in its field.

Aaltonen’s work is aimed at promoting the treatment and prevention of cancers. The work covers studies, data analyses and modelling of how germline and somatic genetic variation contribute to cancer occurrence and progression, as well as the use of research results in medical applications and researcher training. The rapid advances in genomic technologies pose great challenges to experimental work, computing, modelling and statistics. Aaltonen’s research team is considered to have excellent potential to contribute to international advances and breakthroughs in all these subfields. The research results are expected to greatly benefit Finnish society.